Bolts put crimp in Bay Bridge party fun

Eastern section of new Bay Bridge, next to the old span, contains fractured anchor rods. Photo by Michael Macor, San Francisco Chronicle

Faced with uncertainty over bad bolts, fundraising for the Bay Bridge’s big Labor Day opening bash has been put on hold.

The drive to raise $3.5 million in private money is being spearheaded by Marianne Gaddy, who is also the fundraiser for Gov. Jerry Brown’stwo pet charter schools in Oakland.

For weeks, officials have been scrambling to figure out just what caused 32 giant bolts — used to attach earthquake stabilizers to the bridge — to snap. They also are trying to determine if the problem was limited to the galvanizing process used on one set of bolts or if it might extend to hundreds of other bolts used in the construction of the $6.4 billion eastern span.

Gaddy said she’s hopeful a solution to the bolt problem will be found soon and that “we will get back on track.’’

In the meantime, she says, the nonprofit Bay Bridge Alliance has pledges for about half the $3.5 million it needs for the planned two-day party, which is supposed to include a foot race, a bike race and free public walk across the span.

As much as a third of the money is coming from bridge builders and their suppliers, Gaddy said.

Transit officials desperately hope the bridge can open on time over Labor Day, because they need to shut the entire bridge for five full days to finalize work on the eastern span. A three-day weekend, when traffic is light anyway, is an ideal time.

The next three-day weekend isn’t until Veterans Day in November.

For more M&R — including East Bay Rep. Eric Swalwell’s reaction to the Coast Guard stopping security checks of Bay Area bridges, and how Mayor Ed Lee swung a ticket to the White House Correspondents Dinner — click here.